Iona's Gaels Cheered as They Leave for March Madness

A small, but enthusiastic crowd turned out in front of the Hynes Athletic Center on the Iona College campus to cheer the Gaels men's basketball team as they left for Ohio Wednesday.

The No. 15 team will be playing No. 2 Ohio State University in Dayton, OH, at 7:15 p.m. Friday in their first NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship game.

Coach Tim Cluess expressed his admiration for the team for having come so far this season.

Guard Sean Armand, No. 22, thanked everyone for coming out to see them off.

"Everybody that supported us, we appreciate it," he said. "We are goign to try and win the game for Iona."

"Go, Gaels!" Armand said.

Guard Lamont Jones, No. 2, offered his thanks for everyone supporting the team and believing in them.

"You guys don't have to do the things you do for us," he said. "Y'all support us, y'all come out, y'all scream and applaud."

Supporters who cannot be in Ohio to cheer the team on can join others for a free viewing party in the Mulcahy Gymnasium, Hynes Athletics Center, Iona College from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Hors d'oeuvres will be served at the event.

For a complete schedule of all the March Madness games, go here.